(Clip) Lying To God In Our Prayers and Being Honest With Sin
Francis Chan challenges believers to be brutally honest with God in prayer, confessing sin without excuses and recognizing that lying in prayer is ultimately lying to God Himself.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of being completely honest before God, without making excuses for our sins. It challenges listeners to confess their wrongdoings openly, acknowledging the severity of their actions and attitudes. The message highlights the need to address issues such as hatred, bitterness, lust, adultery, and mistreatment of others as sins against God and His creation.
Full Transcript
Excuses, let me not blame. Here's the truth. Here's what we're gonna do.
I'm gonna give you a few minutes to be honest, completely honest, before God. What's the point in lying anyways? But you'd be surprised how often we lie even in our prayers because it's habit. How often we try to make our sin not so bad because we say that to everyone else.
I've been praying that you could come before God this morning and just lay it out with no excuses. Just say, God, here's what I did. This was sinful.
That was sick. That was evil. That was a flat-out lie.
God, I hate this person. That hatred is so wrong. You tell me it's sin, but I hate him.
I just do. I have hatred for this person. And it's against you that I'm sinning because you created that person.
Just lay it out. I've got bitterness toward this person. I've been staring on the internet at these women that you created, these men that you've created.
I'm right on the verge of having an affair. I had an affair. You know about it.
The way I've been treating my kids. I've abused your children. These are your kids.
And I just, I did that to your kid. I sinned against you, God. That was your kid.
Do you understand this? This is, when David says it's against you that I've sinned. Remember when Ananias lied to Peter, the apostle? Ananias and Pharaoh lied to Peter. And Peter goes, you didn't lie to me.
You lied to the Holy Spirit. See, when you come in this room and you lie and you lie to me and go, oh, good sermon. You're not lying to me.
You know? And when you come in this room and you pretend like nothing bad's going on in your life, you're not lying to the person next to you. You're not lying to me. You're lying to God.
It's against God that you're sinning. It's against his children that you're sinning. It's his, it's his son that you hate.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Habit of Lying in Prayer
- People often lie even in their prayers out of habit
- We minimize or excuse our sins to others and God
- Honesty before God is essential
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II. Confessing Sin Honestly
- Lay out your sins plainly without excuses
- Recognize specific sins like hatred, bitterness, and lust
- Understand sin is ultimately against God
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III. The Seriousness of Lying to God
- Lying in prayer is lying to the Holy Spirit
- Pretending all is well is deceitful to God
- Sin harms God's children and His Son
Key Quotes
“But you'd be surprised how often we lie even in our prayers because it's habit.” — Francis Chan
“You didn't lie to me. You lied to the Holy Spirit.” — Francis Chan
“It's against God that you're sinning. It's against his children that you're sinning. It's his, it's his son that you hate.” — Francis Chan
Application Points
- Take time to honestly confess your sins to God without excuses or minimizing them.
- Recognize that lying in prayer is a serious offense against God and the Holy Spirit.
- Reflect on how your sins affect your relationship with God and others, and seek genuine repentance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is honesty in prayer important?
Because God knows our hearts, and being honest allows genuine repentance and restoration in our relationship with Him.
What does it mean to lie to God in prayer?
It means pretending or minimizing our sinfulness instead of confessing truthfully, which is ultimately deceitful to the Holy Spirit.
How should we approach confessing sin?
We should confess our sins plainly and specifically, acknowledging that our sin is against God and His creation.
What are examples of sins mentioned in the sermon?
Hatred, bitterness, lust, and mistreatment of others, including God's children.